Tuesday, November 29 2016 14:52

ArmInfo. According to the information shared to ArmInfo by the Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources of Armenia, there are all preconditions set for installation of solar plants of small capacities Due to results of regulatory variations, since now legal entities and private persons could mount up to 150 kWt capacity solar plants, to produce energy and to sell  it to the Electric Networks of Armenia. As the Ministry of energy states, there will be no need to get license and the process will go under  tax exempt.

Accordinng Hayk  Badalyan, the Director of the Department of rnewable energy and energy saving of the Ministry of Enrgy Infrastructures and Natural  Resources, recently the PSRC ( Public Services Regulating Commission) set a sample agreement on solar plants connection to electrical networks, as well as the order of the energy reimbursement. A written statement of consumer will be needed for the conclusion of appropriate agreement and for the  connection. After that the multi tariff  reversive meters will be installed.

To remind, Hayk Harutyunyan, the Deputy Minister of Energy Infrastructure and Natural Resources of Armenia, at the press conference held in Yerevan on November 23 stated that solar panels up to 1 Mw power capacity may be installed in Armenia As Harutyunyan reminded, two weeks ago the Ministry submitted a proposal to the Public Services Regulating Commission to set a tariff for up to 1 mWt capacity solar power units. According to Deputy Minister, this tariff should be equal to that of the wind energy. At the same time, understanding that it could be accepted as a preference tariff setting for vendors, because it is high enoughwithin the consideration of technologies getting cheaper, Ministry of Energy decided to restrict it with 1 mWt.  Following Deputy Minister, all the appropriate preconditions for investors will be set forth.  Potential investors may apply to PSRC top set the tariff and to rise solar units. And the state will bear an obligation to buy the energy produced during 20 years.

To remind, the actual tariff for the wind power plants is set in Armenia at AMD 42,645 per 1 kW/h without VAT (VAT forming  AMD 51,2 or 10,7 cents).

Earlier in his interview to ArmInfo Hayk Harutyunyan stated that for implementation of this project is is important to have a large area for balancing the production and consumption, to decrease a negative impact of the varying energy. Along with the development of the network the tariffs will be also revised.  The second stage will be the construction of a larger solar plant. This process was launched in 2014 but active work has started recently.  Climate Investment Fund for Development of Alternative Energy has provided $28 mln to Armenia, from which $2 mln are grant funds and $26 loan. The loan terms are quite soft-0.25% annual interest rate with 40 years term and 20 years of grace period. The grant funds are used for studying the locations, developing feasibility study of the project for building stations with 100-120 MW capacity.  Relevant framework is being prepared including legal and normative acts, assessment of influence on nature. Currently 6 projects have been developed, which will be put to tender. The winner will be the one who offers the lowest tariff. Sub-loan agreement will be signed with the winner. The tender will be announced in the beginning of the next year.